We were so excited to meet our little man, and anxious for him to get here safe and sound. At my 38 week appointment, my measurements were offering cause for concern. My belly hadn't grown since week 36. Our doc, Dr. Heinrichs, ordered an ultrasound just to be safe. I was able to get in for an ultrasound that afternoon, and it didn't assuage our fears. Baby boy was measuring about 5 lbs. 13 oz, which was okay, but his tummy was measuring in the less than 5%. Because his belly was so tiny they weren't sure whether my placenta was still providing nourishment, or what exactly was up, but they were concerned. The options were to induce me that day… yikes. Not what I had planned for nor was I expecting. Option two was to go home, come in every other day for tests, rest, and I was to monitor his movements, plus a scheduled induction at 39 and 3. Matt wasn't with me at the appointment, so we discussed at home and decided to go with Plan B. We were pretty shaken though. Feeling guilty, like our little man was being starved inside my belly. Also, concerned that there was a chance that things could really go awry and he wouldn't make it. The stats they were giving us were making us pretty upset. It was a difficult week and three days.
Sunday night, March 30, we were scheduled to come to the hospital at 8 pm to get things going. I called at 6 pm, and they told me they were full, to just keep calling back. This was pretty frustrating/heart breaking considering we were so anxious on numerous levels, I was uncomfortable and emotional as well. My parents were in town, and planned to sleep in our bed since we were heading into the hospital. So last minute I was washing sheets and trying to figure everything out. I kept calling back to the hospital, until 11:30 pm, when they said I could come in… but we decided to wait and call in the morning.
Monday March 31, I called at 6 am - hadn't really slept, and was still just so anxious to get things going. It was a hard way to start labor; upset, nervous for the baby's health, and exhausted. They started the induction with a pill that was supposed to soften the cervix and start dilation. They gave me one, then four + hours later they gave me another. We kind of hung around watched a movie, worked a little on the computer… and just waited. About 10 hours had gone by at this point. They weren't able to give me the third bill because my contractions were happening too frequently, but my cervix wasn't dilated to match the frequency of contractions. It was starting to get a little frustrating, and I couldn't really sleep because people kept coming in and out, the pain was starting, and I was all hyped up to meet our wee one.
Late Monday night we reviewed our options. We were on the second round of staff, new nurse, new mid-wife, and our doc hadn't arrived yet. They tried to insert a plastibell to encourage dilation. ouch. Not a fan. They tried twice, and couldn't get it in. So finally, we landed on a drip of pitosin through the night. I tried to get some rest, but the pitosin drip was starting major cramps, they had to put me on oxygen because baby's heart rate was starting to drop without it, plus the needle in my arm. All made for pretty uncomfortable sleep, if any. I don't mean to sound negative, I'm just trying to remember how incredibly exhausted I was even going into the hard labor.
First thing Tuesday morning, my water broke naturally. I heard it. It was weird. The nights cramping and contractions were incredibly uncomfortable, but the hard labor started then. I escalated from a 0 to a 5 pretty quickly. I was able to take a bath in the jacuzzi tub, which was nice between contractions, but the pain was still there. I didn't take a hypnobirthing class, but I did read a book on it, practiced a ton of yoga and meditation… I guess I'm a little soft, because at this point we were 24 or so hours into the process and I was in incredible pain. Matt and Lyza the midwife were encouraging me, lighting essential oils, rubbing my back, etc… which all helped the experience.
At this point, I decided I was comfortable with the epideral. I was always open to the idea, but wanted to feel labor, and not miss the experience. By now I had felt like I had felt labor. The epideral was johnny on the spot, and the technician did a great job. I could still move my legs, feel the pressure, and feel the delivery - without being in so much pain. I don't regret the decision.
After the epideral everyone wanted me to try and rest and get some sleep, but I felt so much pressure there was no way I could've slept. I didn't know that pressure meant the baby was close, I just knew I was too uncomfortable to sleep. I mentioned as much to the midwife, and she checked me, and I was fully dilated and ready to push. So after 28.5 hours of labor, I got an epideral an hour and a half before our little dude got here.
The doc came in, our mid-wife was there as well as a nurse. Matt scrubbed up, and got ready to catch. I started pushing and 20-30 minutes later our perfect, healthy, beautiful, little angel arrived. It truly is a miraculous process, and I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to experience it. I know when we had so much trouble getting pregnant and keeping the baby one of the things that made me so sad was seeing babies in commercials or friends photos just after delivery when they are put on the mothers chest. I started to think that was something I would never experience. I'm pretty fortunate to say that's not the case.
Mr. Mac Davis Jones - 5 lb 15 oz. 12:36 pm.
Matt caught Mac when he was born. Here he is with our wonderful doctor Gretchen Heinrichs who helped me through the whole process… former miscarriages, getting and staying pregnant and delivery.
